TOP LIST – Dozens of fantastic games are available on Game Pass, both on the Xbox family of consoles and on PC. So the question isn’t really “which are the best games on Game Pass”, but rather “how do I narrow them down” to get the best experience possible for my precious time. And we also want to help those who are thinking about buying a Game Pass for Christmas – either for someone else or for themselves. We’ll also add other platforms if you don’t happen to have an Xbox and don’t want to buy one, but are just interested in good games. We’re also trying to cover a wide range of genres, so don’t be surprised to find indie games on the list, while we’re only highlighting one of the many great Assassin’s Creed titles.

 

 

Ever since Microsoft acquired Bethesda, bringing its exemplary stable of time-stealing RPGs to the service, Game Pass has built a rock-solid core of evergreen titles that you can always count on installing.

But there are also quality indies and Microsoft first party and second party games. Plus, Activision’s recent acquisition of Blizzard promises to add even more blockbuster titles to the catalogue in the not-too-distant future (if Sony and the FTC don’t torpedo the acquisition in the end.)

Whether you’re looking for the next month-long obsession, just looking to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon, or thinking about giving yourself or someone else one for Christmas, here’s our pick of the best Xbox and PC Game Pass games – in no particular order.

 

 

Oblivion, Skyrim, the Fallout games and all the other Bethesda games.

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

If you’ve never played them, I’ll let you in on a little secret: Bethesda RPGs are a bit of a good thing.

Whether it’s the high fantasy worlds of Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim, the quirky post-nuclear wasteland of Fallout or the whale-oil-punk Victorian industrial cityscape of Dishonored, Bethesda’s offering is perfect in almost every way.

And that’s not even mentioning the shooter side – DOOM and Wolfenstein are both excellent – and the underrated sci-fi, Prey, which has one of the best opening scenes.

On PC, you can also access some of the pre-Bethesda entries in the series that you acquired later. Of those, Fallout 1 and 2 are highly recommended if you’re interested in exploring the franchise’s history – but beware, they’re pretty relentless by modern standards.

And there is the promising prospect of Elder Scrolls 6 on the horizon.

To save space, yes, they all count as one in the list.

 

 

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

The cult Yakuza series has long been threatening to go mainstream, and this turn-based transition with a brand new protagonist is the perfect time to get involved.

Combining the sublime with the ridiculous, Like a Dragon continues the meticulous recreation of Yakuza in the backstreets and red-light districts of Japan – this time focusing on Yokohama – while taking the series’ trademark zany humour to the next level, and incorporating tropes you’ll see in more typical and fantasy-based RPGs.

Stun the enemy with demoralising insults, breathe fire with cheap booze and lighters, or swing your bag like a makeshift whip to crack a few skulls.

In your spare time, you can play a list of new and returning mini-games from blackjack and darts to batting cages and karaoke.

 

 

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition

Platforms: Xbox, PC (Game Pass Ultimate required)

 

Joining the EA Play titles to Game Pass as part of the Xbox and Electronic Arts collaboration, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is another generation-defining role-playing game, this time following Commander Shepard through a trilogy of space opera epics as he defends humanity and the galactic alliance from a mysterious and hostile enemy.

Mass Effect 2 is often hailed as one of the true gold standard games of the last 15 years, as you build a team of specialists in Ocean’s Eleven style to complete a high-stakes mission against impossible odds.

But really, if you can get past some of the feel of the 360/PS3-era gameplay, the whole series is as compelling as it ever was. And the graphical overhaul of the Legendary edition is a nice graphical tune-up – even if it doesn’t match the latest graphical wonders of 2022.

Even if you were playing them when they were released, remember: the Legendary Edition includes all the DLC you were probably too broke to release at the time, so there’s probably new stuff in there for old fans.

 

 

Persona 5 Royal

Platforms: Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, PC

 

Persona 5 Royal hasn’t lost any of its pace since launch. Persona 5 Royal is easily a contender for one of the best RPGs of all time, and three years after its release, it’s finally on Xbox Game Pass. The new port is the definitive release of one of the best games of all time, with a mix of turn-based combat and life simulation elements that hasn’t lost any of its pace.

The Royal Edition, available on Game Pass, includes more than 40 DLC items not included in the base game – if the sprawling 100-hour story isn’t enough for you.

 

 

Forza Horizon 5

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Forza Horizon 5 is a racing game that’s equally fun for hardcore racers and those who don’t usually like racing games: customizable racing, a delicious collection of beautiful cars and a diverse, fantastically designed open-world version of Mexico.

If you’re the kind of player who only takes the controller between track days, then turning up the difficulty will really test your driving skills. Or, if you’re like me, every time you mess up a corner, the smooth rewind feature lets you spin back to where everything went smoothly and pretend you’re still the race car driver you’ve always dreamed of being.

Forza Horizon 4 is also great, and offers a relatively similar experience, only set in the South West of the UK. So, if you’d rather explore Yeovil than the Yucatán, check out the previous post.

 

 

Halo Infinite

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

One of the best things about Gamepass is that you get most of the exclusive games supported by Microsoft the day they’re released, and Halo Infinite is one of the best.

Master Chief returns to the forefront in this spectacular, semi-open world action-adventure game that combines a fan-centric Halo-era story for returning fans with classic-style but endlessly immersive first-person shooters with a unique feel that defines the series.

The game also includes an incredible online multiplayer mode that is incredibly competitive and frenetic, but at a very different pace to reflex-heavy FPSs like Call of Duty and battle royale games.

 

 

Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order

Platforms: Xbox, PC (Game Pass Ultimate required)

 

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order asks, “What if it was Dark Souls, but with easy mode and vroom lightsabers?”.

Fallen Order unashamedly draws inspiration from the harder, traditional RPG genre and layers it with the Star Wars aesthetic and story we all know and love, and is a fantastic game that stands among the best Star Wars games.

And thanks to the latest next-gen graphics update, it looks better than ever.

 

 

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Platforms: Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, PC

 

Disney Dreamlight Valley is the simulation game of a lifetime from GameLoft that puts you in a picturesque village alongside a host of fan-favourite Disney characters. Whether you’re an adult Disney fan or not, Dreamlight Valley is surprisingly fun.

While you’ll spend plenty of time gathering resources through mining, farming and all the other things you’re used to in simulation games, Disney Dreamlight Valley never feels like a chore. You always feel like you’re accomplishing something, which makes for a really relaxing but satisfying gaming experience.

You can also play chef to Remy from Ratatouille and watch the tumultuous relationship between Donald Duck and Scrooge McDuck unfold. These are just a few of the small additions that make the gameplay even more lively.

What’s even better is that the game is still in Early Access, and there are plenty of new characters and updates to come.

 

 

Dead Cells

Platforms: Xbox, PC, PS4

 

One of the best roguelites on any platform, let alone Game Pass, Dead Cells combines brutal combat and hardcore platforming with a memorable dark pixel aesthetic to create something as immersive as it is rewarding.

While it may take a while to get your bearings in the changing, maze-like world, collecting stat-modifying power ups and building your character from the huge equipment list adds an interesting element of experimentation to the mix.

If you like tough games, Dead Cells is the right challenge.

 

 

Return to Monkey Island

Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC

 

The original Monkey Island games are some of the best adventure games ever made, so it was a risky return to the series more than a decade after its last release. Fortunately, Return to Monkey Island captures everything that made the original so classic, including clever puzzles, sharp writing and eye-catching art.

Point-and-click adventure games may not be as popular as they used to be, but Return to Monkey Island shows that there’s still plenty of potential in the retro genre.

 

 

Hitman trilogy

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

An often forgotten and underrated series, the three most recent Hitman games offer level after level of excellent open world assassination in an open world world with extreme assassination action.

Hitman 2 and 3 are particularly great, with plenty of memorable locations, such as a murder mystery in a country mansion – where you play a detective who solves a previous crime while killing suspects.

If you grab the whole trilogy in one package, you can play through as many as you can without having to try every option, but it’s just as much fun to play through the same scenarios again to try all the horrible permutations.

 

 

Immortality

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

From the author behind Her Story and Telling Lies comes Immortality. With these two promising titles under your belt, with outstanding narratives, you already know you won’t be disappointed with Immortality.

Nevertheless, nothing can prepare you for the twists and turns that occur during the FMV game. Follow Marissa Marcel through her three yet-to-be-released films and put together the puzzle of who she really is.

Immortality is magical in the sense that it truly transports you into Mariss’ realm, and just when you think things are falling into place, another nail is driven into the mix that changes everything you thought you knew about the actor.

It’s best to play with as little knowledge of the game as possible, and I recommend this for those who prefer a more relaxed, investigative gaming experience.

 

 

Crusader Kings 3

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Poke and prod your way towards a prosperous kingdom in Crusader Kings 3, where you fight against the world to make your family the ruling dynasty of the Middle Ages.

But it’s not just your usual turn-based war strategy game. You’ve got all kinds of statecraft at your disposal when dealing with rivals, so you can go the traditional diplomatic route, throw in some poison ear drops in the bedroom, or fight an ironclad, muddy pitchfork battle between peasant armies if need be.

Crusader Kings 3 shows that even though the weight of the crown is heavy, it’s still a lot of fun to try and keep it from tipping over.

 

 

Gears 5 (PC, console) (Xbox Series S|X optimised)

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Gears 5 tells the franchise’s most personal story yet.

Gears 5 continues to be the showstopper for Xbox Series S|X consoles, and for good reason – The Coalition’s third-person shooter has never looked and played better. Players will take control of Kait Diaz in the game’s campaign, which features stunning set pieces and even an open-world-themed section.

In multiplayer mode, players can enjoy Horde, Versus and the new Escape mode, meaning there’s plenty for players to try. Oh, and yes, there are still chainsaw weapons.

 

 

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Both Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, are available on Game Pass, and both are brilliant.

In a crowded field of 2D adventure games, the Ori series stands out for its vast and varied story world, precise gameplay and exceptional atmosphere.

While it may seem like a children’s game – and it’s certainly “fun for the whole family”, as they say – there’s something fundamentally magical about the experience of playing that will keep you riveted to the screen.

These games aren’t very long, so a one-month subscription is great for a couple of good weekend games, rather than getting stuck into a 100-hour epic.

 

 

Psychonauts 2 (PC, console) (Xbox Series S|X optimised)

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Psychonauts 2 picks up where the first game left off – despite a 16-year hiatus

The original Psychonauts may have been released in 2005, but the 2021 sequel leaves nothing out. In fact, it picks up where its predecessor left off and reintroduces Razputin “Raz” Aquato. Players can delve into the fractured psyches of multiple characters, and each world offers a unique playground for Raz to experiment with his psi powers.

If you’re a fan of platform games, or developer Double Fine’s unique blend of the wacky and the heartfelt, Psychonauts 2 is a must-play.

 

 

Tunic

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

The beautiful, polygonal Zelda-style Tunic evokes the nostalgic feel of your favourite adventures without feeling too derivative or overdone.

While most modern action-RPGs tend towards super-tough worlds with punishing battles and every obstacle falling in your way, here you’ll lead your fox character through a mysterious and mystical island, full of intriguing secrets and great path design.

When everything else looks a bit serious, Tunic is a simpler, more stripped-down game with great, artistic graphics.

 

 

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Platforms: Xbox, PC, PS4

 

Odyssey takes Assassin’s Creed back to Greek antiquity, giving players the opportunity to explore the ‘back story’ of the franchise’s central conflict between the Assassins and the Templars, from the perspective of an exiled Spartan warrior turned mercenary. To preface the obvious caveat, it carries on the action-RPG roots set out in Origins. While some may find this divisive, it is hard to argue that it has not been tastefully polished. While the game’s entrenchment in action-RPG territory detracts from the franchise’s stealth-action characteristics, the sheer variety introduced through varied weapons and combat abilities is a welcome departure from the tried and tested Assassin’s Creed standards.

The site itself is beautifully drawn. Whether you’re sailing or travelling on horseback, the open-world version of Odyssey, set in ancient Greece, is vivid, compelling and full of content. Of course, there is a long main mission sequence, but the number of side quests, whether radial or story-based, borders on the absurd – but it’s hard to blame a game as ambitious as Odyssey for simply having too much to do. Needless to say, what we get is a pleasantly deep pastime.

 

 

Amnesia: Rebirth

Platforms: Xbox, PC, PS4

 

While Amnesia: Rebirth doesn’t hit the cultural zeitgeist as hard as The Dark Descent, it is a frighteningly well-executed narrative about one man’s journey to overcome the darkness within and without. Your character, Tasi Trianon, must discover why disaster struck on his expedition, why their plane crashed in the Algerian desert, and why he can’t remember any of the events.

As you would expect from a Frictional Games title, Rebirth is a harrowing experience. What you might not expect, however, is the heartbreaking tragedy that accompanies many of its events. The emotional turmoil in Amnesia: Rebirth is twice as much as we felt in The Dark Descent and Soma combined. So if you like your horror games to masterfully weave through deeper themes, don’t miss Rebirth.

 

 

Total War Warhammer 3

Platforms: PC

 

Total War Warhammer 3 is the latest in one of the gaming world’s most satisfying crossovers, combining the epic fantasy story of Warhammer with the grand strategy of Total War to deliver a fantastically immersive experience.

Whether you’re looking to play the good guy and stem the tide of evil as one of the human factions, or you want to raise hell with the demonic gods of Chaos, there are plenty of unit types to manoeuvre and tactics to master in the heavy campaign and strategic multiplayer modes.

 

 

Hollow Knight

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

A terrifying metroidvania-style RPG that explores a tiny, underground bug-ridden world, Hollow Knight is a punchy indie 2D action game in which you’ll face brutal bosses and dangerous platforming stages along the way.

But it’s not just about the gameplay. There are plenty of hidden stories to uncover, the roots of which will have you pondering the history of this forgotten kingdom long after the credits roll.

 

 

Football Manager 2022

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

As part of your Game Pass subscription, you can now dive into the overwhelming world of Football Manager, but be warned, you may never be able to get away from it if you’re addicted to the genre.

Football Manager 2022 simulates the most realistic managerial experience possible and has been designed with an immense amount of data. Football Manager 2022 is the truest test of your football skills, as all that stands between humiliating defeat and victory is your tactical sense.

With an ever-increasing amount of real licenses, a deep roster of real players and an almost overwhelming amount of control at your fingertips, it’s no wonder that people often apply for real football manager jobs by listing their FM achievements on their CV.

 

 

Minecraft

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Ah, Minecraft! Mojang’s survival title is arguably a Game Pass staple, especially now that Java and Bedrock are available from the same launcher, meaning you can play either version and never have to give up teaming up with friends.

Minecraft is a simple game (mostly) about dice. You spawn in a random world with nothing, and your only job is to survive the night. Minecraft has been around for over a decade, and the creators are really pushing the extreme limits of the game and its builds to create something amazing.

That said, if you’ve never tried Minecraft, there’s no better time than the present to start building a home and defeat the Ender Dragon.

 

 

Stardew Valley

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

The deservedly popular Stardew Valley is a deep and subtly beautiful farming simulator where you can inherit your grandfather’s farm and build a thriving farm from it.

You can raise cute animals, grow a wide variety of crops, explore an extensive network of underground tunnels and meet new friends in a nearby town as you build your own beautiful country life.

Do you think that rebuilding a farm business is too big a task on your own? Well, the whole of Stardew Valley was pretty much made by one person, so there’s no excuse for not giving it your all!

 

 

Wasteland 3

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

The original Wasteland was released back in the ’80s, but the mutant brand of post-nuclear USA directly inspired the core of another series you may have heard of – the first two Fallout games.

Wasteland 2 (also on Game Pass) and Wasteland 3, revived in the classic big-camera strategy role-playing format, Wasteland 2 (also on Game Pass) recreates the unique world everyone loved in Fallout and takes it to the extreme.

While helping the Arizona Rangers gain the trust and support of Colorado’s strong-arm leader, the Patriarch, you’ll decide the fate of a gang of merchants who only wear Halloween costumes, free the elves at Santa’s drug workshop, and take on an evil cult that worships a truly terrifying creature: Ronald Reagan.

 

 

Vampire Survivors

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Vampire Survivors is a huge indie craze of its day, and also a game where, frankly, you don’t do much. That, however, is its joy. Let’s not judge it on the basis that it feels outdated or that we just said it doesn’t do much at all, because this game essentially provides free serotonin.

Your goal is to survive as long as you can against hordes of enemies, using loot and power ups to get upgrades and so try to survive even longer. It may seem minimalist, because it is, but rest assured that’s what makes the game so great.

 

 

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

The sequel to 2006’s Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Microsoft Flight Simulator is the 11th installment in a series that began in November 1982.

The game, developed by Asobo Studio and published by Xbox Game Studios, was released on August 18, 2020 for Windows and on July 27, 2021 for Xbox Series X/S. The classic Microsoft Flight Simulator experience that everyone knows and loves is back with this new entry, with a few updates and a new feature worth checking out.

The game now features an enhanced physics engine that provides realistic flight control surfaces. Microsoft Flight Simulator’s artificial intelligence also incorporates real-time elements such as weather and real-time air traffic. The new section also includes landing challenges, utilities and photoable safaris that can be viewed from the air.

The player can choose any aircraft, with accurate cockpits, and fly over any city, taking in all the landmarks and famous places along the way.

The Standard edition gives players access to more than 20 flyable aircraft, while the Deluxe edition offers an expanded catalogue of aircraft, with an additional 5 aircraft. This number increases to 10 in the Premium Deluxe Edition.

 

 

Pentiment

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Pentiment comes from the folks at Obsidian Entertainment and is an absolute gem on the Xbox Game Pass. It’s an illustrated, narrative-driven game with some of the most beautifully stylized art we’ve seen in a while.

Play the role of Andreas Maler in 16th century Europe, where you’ll meet a cast of characters as you discover and try to solve mysteries. Pentiment is ‘a wonderful tapestry of historical intrigue’, as our own Jim Trinca said, and the history buffs among us will have an incredible time.

 

 

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Platforms: Xbox, PC

 

Plague Tale: Requiem follows on from its predecessor, Plague Tale: Innocence, and takes you into the world of medieval fantasy. If you’re new to the game, it’s worth checking out if only for how visually breathtaking it can be.

As you might have guessed from the title, your role in this action-adventure game is to take on the role of Amicia and defend against the Black Plague rat hordes and the soldiers of the French Inquisition. All in all, it’s an emotional tale of two sisters set in medieval France that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the game.

 

 

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Platforms: PC

 

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a first-person co-operative action game, similar to Warhammer: Vermintide 2. You and up to three other friends must take on the waves of enemies. To spice things up a bit more, you can choose your own class, appearance and gender, so you can dive into the RPG side of things.

In this complex environment you’ll find shooting fun, great attention to detail and, most importantly, a challenge. Unfortunately, it’s only available on PC for Game Pass.

-theGeek-